half chance

Reports from China indicate Didier Drogba and his former Chelsea team mate, Nicholas Anelka
could leave Shanghai Shenhua because the club is unable to meet its wage commitments because of an
escalating shareholder row. Both Drogba and Anelka earn a mind boggling Â£300,000 per week to play
for 10th placed Shenhua.

Chelsea's 2-0 win in their FA Cup fifth round replay against Birmingham marked something of a
new start for the club. Yet another manager has been paid handsomely to make a hasty exit and since
he wasn't overwhelmingly popular among all the players, there is likely a refreshed feeling in
certain corners of the dressing room.

A bizarre mid-week day game was probably not something the Chicago Fire were too thrilled with
when initially looking at the 2012 MLS Schedule. Still, with twenty minutes to go, it looked as if
the Fire would be able to hang on and steal a point on the road against the New York Red Bulls.

So close. But Liverpool can't take full advantage of chances created, and United keeps scoring late
goals. Narratives are awesome.

Both managers would have been happy with the first hour of play. United's surprisingly defensive
lineup â€“ without Rooney, Nani, and Chicharito and with Phil Jones in midfield â€“Â limited
Liverpool opportunities.

The Columbus Crew had been losers of three of their past four matches, but they scored a
sorely-needed victory just before the all-star break to boost their chances of catching the playoff
pack in the East.

Midfielder Chris Birchall raced onto a Jairo Arrieta pass just after halftime and beat the
D.

Fresh Rapid Vienna catch Terrence Boyd was setting off the ostinato cello for reals on Tuesday
night, providing the greatest source of bite in attack during a 2-1 friendly loss to visiting AS
Roma.The clip below shows some of his exploits, including the goal, but unfortunately omits a
second half chance when he forced a fine tip-over save from distance.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of
the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5
average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue contributed ratings for the USA's 3-1 win over
Antigua & Barbuda.

After each match the contributors to New England Soccer Today will rate the performances of
the United States National Team players who made an appearance on a 1 to 10 scale (1 horrendous, 5
average, 10 perfection). This week Sean Donahue contributed ratings for theÂ USA's 1-0 victory over
Honduras.

I am feeling under the weather, so I didn't get out to the Timbers
training session today. Sorry folks. At least this gives me a free moment to bear down and
transcribe some more quotes form the last few days.

6/25

John Spencer

On the Timbers game against Seattle

I thought that when we controlled the first half and controlled possession we created
chances.

It's been awhile since I trawled through the Guardian chalkboards for interesting items. I know, we
all missed it.

I remain convinced that Liverpool changed tact in midfield during the interval. The key seemed to
be Spearing, more willing to stay in his own half and shield the defense rather than pressing
higher up the pitch and leaving gaps.

Today, Arsenal had a chance to make a statement of where it stands in the current hierarchy of
English football. This was not just a game we needed to win to keep us in contention for a top-four
finish â€“ no, this was also a game in which we needed to demonstrate to ourselves again how good
we really are.

Today, Arsenal had a chance to make a statement of where it stands in the current hierarchy of
English football. This was not just a game we needed to win to keep us in contention for a top-four
finish â€“ no, this was also a game in which we needed to demonstrate to ourselves again how good
we really are.

It wasn't all bad for Charlie Adam against Arsenal on Saturdayâ€”it was only almost all
bad. He did, as usual, supply a handful of cutting cross-field passes that effectively switched
play. He found Martin Kelly in space on a pair of occasions as Liverpool's fullback joined the
attack late and unmarked.

What has two thumbs and couldn't be more desperate to leave?Hold tight comrades, this is the
serious shit now. Rejuvenated Sunderland came to the Lane on Sunday with a cunning plan to further
derail our campaign after the damage inflicted by Corporal Pulis' Stoke Taskforce the week before
(ably assisted by rear gunner Foy, it must be said).

I have stated that AVB's bubble has burst in the title of this post and this is exactly what has
happened yesterday. For too long we have seen our defensive deficiencies and we knew we had been
struggling to keep clean sheets. After conceding three a Old Trafford we were worried but the fact
we played so well in attacking United it was more or less played down.

When I saw the starting line-ups, my initial reaction was that this was going to be a very tough
game that will demand a special performance from the Gunners if they were to qualify. After the
final whistle, I doubt anyone will argue that it wasn't an exceptional effort from an interesting
collection of young and experienced footballers in red and white.

The Rest

Liverpool was condemned to their worst start to a season for half-a-century as Lukas Podolski and
Santi Cazorla gave Arsenal victory at Anfield.
On what would have been Bill Shankly's 99th birthday, the Reds equalled the record of his
newly-promoted side in 1962-63 by collecting just one point from their opening three games.

Having waited 118 years for a second all-Edinburgh Final, the Scottish Cup final ended up being
a disappointment for neutrals, and especially Hibernian fans, as Heart of Midlothian ran out
comfortable 5-1 winners, for their eight victory in the competition, their third Cup win in
fourteen years. It was a game overshadowed by controversy, especially concerning the decision at
the start of the second half, which saw Hearts awarded a penalty and Hibernian reduced to ten
men.

So close, yet so far. The Liverpool of old threatened to reappear, but fell just short of another
fabled cup final comeback. By millimeters, and "aided" by the woodwork. Just not good enough to
make up for self-inflicted mistakes, both individual and tactical, but painfully, frustratingly
close.

Papiss Cisse scored twoÂ brilliantÂ opportunist goals for Newcastle in the game at Liberty Stadium
this afternoon, as the NewcastleÂ defense hung on well, Â asÂ Swansea had most of the play but
couldn't quite cut out any real good chances. But it was that Newcastle number 9 Papiss Cisse who
had a half chance after 5 minutes and he [.

Oduro wasn't shy to take shots from tight angles for Chicago last night, and he had quite a few of
them (including one off the crossbar). Salihi had one such half-chance from a poor angle, and he
wasn't shy either.

Npower League One promotion hopefuls Stevenage Football Club hosted third place EPL side Tottenham
Hotspur in the fifth round of the English FA Cup this past weekend in front of a capacity crowd of
just over 7,000 at Broadhall Way. Stevenage was led by a familiar face to MLS fans.

Only a few weeks ago, Stevenage announced the arrival of their new manager Gary Smith, formerly of
Major League Soccer's Colorado Rapids, who has led an impressive opening few weeks in charge
already seeing his new club to two wins and a draw in the league and now this Sunday's impressive
FA Cup draw against Tottenham.

Ãlvaro SaborÃ­o scored two for Real Salt Lake, and the Seattle Sounders reacted with
frustration to their 3-0 loss in the first leg of the Western Conference Semifinals. RSL dominated
from the early minutes, pounding eleven shots at Seattle's geriatric keeper while holding the
Flounders to exactly zero shots on target for the duration of the match.